Style Icon: Francoise Hardy and Serge Gainsbourg

Francoise Hardy and Serge Gainsbourg

For me, finding inspiration requires effort and, to contrary belief, is not easily found. A lot of modern day fashionista’s do not inspire me directly; I am not a big fan of a pop of colour that seems to be the trend nowadays nor would I randomly purchase a brand before reading extensively about it/close inspection/days of fighting redemption and asserting. I am simply not the right soul for fast fashion and tend to avoid the most excessive sightings of it.

That does not imply I am not a fan of flipping through magazines, or browsing around for inspiration. As for my fashion icons I tend to fall back on icons of days long gone and I would consider the sixties as one of my main sources for such inspiration. There is something about the way Serge Gainsbourg sports white Repetto brogues with jeans and a Mariniere, same for the straight shape of the A-line dresses Yves Saint Laurent invented and made popular around the same time. Also, I find it impossible to keep my eye off this Gainsbourg/Hardy combo seen above. I love the idea of cutting out all frivolous elements while maintaining a beautiful silhouette such as both are sporting, emphasizing both their interesting faces and slim postures. They are a picture proof that simple lines are all you need in clothes to make your face and charm work for you.

Also, I love the style of the jumper Serge is wearing. I currently own two similar pairs (in navy and black cashmere) and after seeing this picture am imagining myself how good they’d look with a pair of grey tapered trousers… A welcoming change from the black pair I usually pull out for a day at the office.

What is it that Francoise Hardy has that is so laidback yet d hard to decipher? Although her sultry face is partly covered by thick, silky bangs and most of her waifish figure is hidden by oversized boyish garments, for me she is the epitome of subtle grace. Perhaps it is the following quote by Yohji Yamamoto that made me think of her in a suiting way:

For me, a woman who is absorbed in her work, who does not care about gaining one’s favour, strong yet subtle at the same time, is essentially more seductive. The more she hides and abandons her femininity, the more it emerges from the very heart of her existence.

Even though she is named among Twiggy and Charlotte Rampling as one of the IT-girls of the sixties, her looks have never been a strong focus point of her career. As a woman who is caught up in the act of making music, producing and generally working hard she has never given any outspoken interviews or defining quotes, but preferred to stay in the background to let her dark and sullen guitar-driven music add charm to her elusive appearance. As for her style and dressing habits she takes a similar approach. Hardy is often seen in boyish woollen jumpers, styled with neutral coloured tapered trousers and flat shoes (think Repetto’s), topped off by her statement Burberry trench and trademark thick fringe.